The current patent covers systems with controllers. No controller means no infringement. However, and it's a big HOWEVER, Orbitheft is trying to get an extension to the patent to cover all LED lighting, whether it has a controller or not. If they do then Nano Customs will either have to stop selling their retrofits or pay a license fee to Orbitec.

Hence my earlier thread asking for any examples of prior art that anybody knows of. There is a move afoot in the industry to try to have the patent re-examined and hopefully overturned. Any examples of people publicly discussing or displaying LED aquarium lighting for more than moonlighting before December 2003 could serve as prior art making Orbitec's patent application invalid.

Ron, i think you missed one of my replies.

Can you provide a link to the heat sinks you picked up on ebay? I can't find anything with the appropriate width. maybe im blind?

Hi,

They were just salvaged used heatsinks, not new retail ones. So no link, sorry. The one advatage is that they already have a whole bunch of mounting holes drilled and tapped in them so that makes it easier for me to mount them and possibly mount fans right on the heatsinks. There are lots of used heatsinks in different sizes available on eBay if you search. The only catch might be shipping to Canada. I have a mailbox just across the border in WA state that they were shipped to. Saved me something like $25 in shipping costs as they were heavy and no taxes or duties. Just a confused look from the border gaurd as I tried to explain what a heatsink was and what I was going to do with them :lol:

I haven't figured out eaxctly how I am going to wire them yet but they will be on 8 separate drivers (4 for whites and 4 for blues) so some will likely span heatsinks. I could probably put a connector in to go across heatsinks but they will all be mounted flush against each other in the housing. They are 15" long for a total of 45" in a 48" housing so I will just leave 1.5 inches on each end open. Right now I am trying to figure out how I am going to mount them in the housing. I'm a biologist, not an engineer :) Once I figure that out the wiring is the easy part.

maybe L brackets to create a lip that the heatsinks can rest on? yeah, this is definitely out of my scope as well. you are lucky about the US address. i checked shipping form heatsinkusa for a 10wide x 30long, and it'll cost $125 for the heatsink, and $75 for shipping!!!!!!!!!!!! :laser::scared:

hmm did you ask about shipping options.. I asked them about USPS ground and it was about 35 bucks for the shipping on a 10X28. never use UPS as there will ba a 35 buck extra charge from UPS to "clear customs"

Steve

I think it was USPS as well :( sigh. i will keep my eyes open for a heatsink.

I was going to buy it anyways as I wasnted a one piece design, but ya there has to be something in Canada.


Steve

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z5l7...ayer_embedded#
Above is the video of LED lited SPS tank. He's got 3 ballasts so looks like 3 LED strips.

here is the store that sells them.

http://www.fish-street.com/weipro_led_lighting_led-c
Could it work for a Nano or a small cube tank ?

I would say no. It says it's 180 LEDs and 21 watts so regular 5mm LEDs probably putting out very little PAR. Also, lifespan of those types of LEDs is iffy as they are very difficult to cool effectively. The tank in the video looks like it has T8s or something as well in addition to the LEDs.

the life of the 5mm will be very good, and they don't need cooling to get that life. but like you said there is no par to speak of.. they are about the same PAR output as a NO T12 bulb from my testing about 7 years ago.

this light are good for FOWLR or FO tanks, not anything with coral.

Steve

Well, it all depends on how well ventilated the housing is on those units. 5mm LEDs will suffer from heat too. it's just that thermal management of high power LEDs is more critical because they put out alot more heat. But a tight, enclosed fixture with 180 5mm LEDs in it could potentially build up heat and reduce the life of the emitters. And you can't really use heatsinks and fans to cool the plastic type LEDs.

doesn't matter at all, I had potted 5mm leds that have been running for 4 years 24/7 the heat production from a 5mm at 3.7 volts (rated input) is nill. the ones I have arew potted in the middle of 1.5 X 1" clear acrylic potting material. I actuly threw them out when I moved as I was doing an exparament to see how long submersable leds would last in a waterproof enclosure.

Steve

Has anyone heard anything about the Maxspect led lights? It seems interesting especially for that price.

http://www.fish-street.com/maxspect_...ategory_id=118

Stupid Orbitech.


Sorry, just throwing that out there :wink:

I hear you brother :lol:


They look alright but I have a couple of concerns which would keep me from buying one. Firstly, they are not adjustable. You can't dim the LEDs or the blue and white separately. to adjust brightness or colour temperature. secondly, i don't really like the approach of using a few really high wattage LEDs rather than a good array of 3 watt emitters. That will lead to some really bright hotspots and areas of extremely high PAR that could bleach some corals right under those emitters and then the PAR will drop off alot more outside those hotspots. May be okay if you want to put your high light SPS right under those LEDs and then lower light stuff in other areas of the tank.